Whittemore's law license temporarily pulled

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Harvey Whittemore's law license after the longtime attorney and ex-lobbyist was sentenced to two years in prison for breaking federal campaign fundraising laws.

Whittemore was convicted last month of making illegal contributions through straw or "conduit donors" to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's 2007 campaign.

Whittemore's lawyer, Dominic Gentile, told the Reno Gazette-Journal (http://tinyurl.com/lf7549r ) Tuesday he plans to file a petition with the high court asking for the suspension to be lifted.

The 61-year-old Whittemore has been practicing law in Nevada since 1977 and once was a member of one of the state's most powerful law firms.

The temporary suspension went into effect Tuesday. The Nevada Bar Association will form a disciplinary board to initiate a formal disciplinary review within 10 days.